CHAPTER 197

"It is an honor to meet the person I’ve only heard rumors about."

Saying this, Alex Sanders extended his hand for a handshake.

‘He's surprisingly ordinary, isn't he?’

His appearance was exactly as I had seen in photos before. A long face, pale skin, and a gentle smile. At first glance, he seemed like just a kind and harmless college student.

His outfit was also typical campus fashion.

A gray hoodie, worn-out chinos, and scuffed sneakers.

For someone who was supposed to be the head of a huge organization that would move the world, he seemed to lack charisma…

‘Or maybe not?’

His eyes were different, though.

In his blue eyes, a sharp and firm insight flashed.

Well, this wasn’t the time for such thoughts.

I also shook his hand and said,

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’ve been wanting to meet you for a long time.”

“Me?”

A subtle look of confusion passed over his face.

“I didn’t expect someone from Wall Street to know me.”

At the moment, Alex Sanders was running a startup accelerator named "Hatchwork."

Hatchwork helped early-stage startups by providing funding and mentoring, paving the way for their growth. He was the famous figure from Silicon Valley who had helped create unicorns like Dropbox and Airbnb.

However, he wasn’t that well-known in traditional financial sectors like Wall Street.

So, it was surprising that I knew him.

I smiled softly and replied,

“I’ve been looking into the startup ecosystem with an interest in early-stage investments, and your name kept coming up. You’re well-known, even among those who know the finance world.”

“Ah, I see.”

I had thrown in a bit of flattery, but his expression didn’t change.

‘Seems like he doesn’t have much vanity.’

For someone like him, excessive praise would be counterproductive.

I had to be careful.

“I’ve heard that you’ve made an interesting announcement recently, and I wanted to discuss it. How about a walk? There are some great spots to walk around here.”

He suggested the walk.

It was a signal that he wanted to talk in a place where we could avoid prying eyes.

I had a rough idea of what the topic might be.

‘He probably won’t give me an invitation directly.’

In the past, Next AI had only invited a select few investors.

To get into that circle, you had to pass a difficult qualification review.

In other words, this was…

‘Is this some sort of first-round interview?’

The first hurdle to enter Next AI.

I accepted his invitation readily.

“Sounds good.”

###

The Consciousness Summit was being held at the Isalen Institute, which overlooked the Pacific Ocean.

Around the institute, a coastal walkway ran through a red cedar forest.

“Let’s go this way.”

Alex Sanders, who had been visiting this place every year, led the way with a familiar stride.

There was no conversation between them as they left the event venue.

It wasn’t just because there were too many ears around, though…

It was more because his head was filled with complicated thoughts.

‘Is he truly a good fit…?’

Alex had already begun to solidify the blueprint for Next AI.

But for his grand vision to become a reality, two things were crucial.

Talent and money.

Recruiting talent was relatively easy.

Alex was already a well-known figure in Silicon Valley.

The problem, however, was with the money.

Most investors interested in AI were focused solely on profit.

However, the Next AI Alex envisioned was a strictly non-profit organization.

Investors who only cared about profit wouldn’t show interest.

He had approached many wealthy individuals who were interested in charitable causes, but there had been no clear results.

Then, during the summit, he had heard news about Ha Si-heon.

—Orca is donating $1 billion for rare disease treatment… If there’s AI technology involved, pitch it…

One billion dollars. That was an enormous amount.

"Ha Si-heon…?"

That was a name Alex was familiar with.

The Theranos incident had sent a massive shockwave through Silicon Valley.

Ha Si-heon was the one who had exposed the dark side of Silicon Valley's “moonshot” culture.

Afterward, he had been raising awareness about the soaring prices of Valeant’s drugs and unethical practices, emphasizing corporate social responsibility.

Before that, he had even spoken out against racism through the Epicura incident.

‘He must be someone with good intentions…’

He definitely seemed that way. But for some reason, a strange discomfort lingered in Alex's mind.

Why did he feel this way?

At that moment, his gaze shifted to the tips of Ha Si-heon’s shoes.

There, a pair of brand-new white sneakers sparkled in the sunlight.

“New sneakers, huh?”

“Yeah. I hardly get a chance to wear them in New York, so I thought I’d bring them out this time.”

“I see.”

Alex answered, but a question popped into his mind.

‘Can’t you wear sneakers in New York, too?’

Even if not during work hours…

At least after work, for a jog, or during the weekend walks in the park.

But he quickly understood.

Ha Si-heon was far removed from that kind of life.

He wasn’t someone who would wear sneakers.

He had only worn them here to fit in with the free-spirited atmosphere, but in reality, he came from a completely different world, one that didn’t share this culture.

‘Well, that does fit.’

Ha Si-heon exuded a unique aura that couldn't be explained by just the word "urban."

His perfectly groomed appearance, the luxury watch subtly shining on his wrist, and the refined ease in his tone and actions.

He was, without a doubt, a Wall Street person.

And that fact made Alex uneasy.

‘No matter what his track record is, fundamentally, he’s a hedge fund manager.’

And in hedge funds, profit always came first.

There were often rumors that even technology patents were considered mere assets, bundled together into portfolios and sold.

‘Could it be…?’

Could there be some hidden agenda behind his so-called "moonshot"?

A cunning plan to seize technology behind the guise of a noble cause like the “rare disease project”…?

Of course, judging by his actions so far, this seemed unlikely.

But if his background was in hedge funds?

It wouldn’t hurt to be cautious.

‘But…'

Suddenly, another thought flashed through Alex’s mind.

‘Ha Si-heon, the largest sponsor of the Castleman Foundation.’

It had been revealed that Ha Si-heon was indeed the largest donor to the Castleman Foundation.

Not only had he promised to develop a cure in words, but he had already invested substantial funds long ago.

‘This could be for show, but…’

There were also numerous stories on social media testifying to Ha Si-heon’s sincerity.

—Orca came to our hospital…

—I heard he’s covering all the expenses for the VIP patient rooms?

—At my friend’s funeral, Ha Si-heon came. Despite being an uninsured patient, he supported the treatment costs and even paid for the most advanced tests…

If all these testimonies are true?

Ha Si-heon wasn’t just making an image; he was genuinely an ethical person.

But…

‘Which is it?’

While Alex was lost in these complex thoughts, they reached the walking path.

Confirming that no one was around, Alex slowly began to speak.

“You declared that you would use AI for rare disease treatment.”

Alex looked Ha Si-heon directly in the eyes and spoke.

“I think it’s a bold challenge. The fusion of healthcare and AI is something everyone knows has potential, but it’s one of the most difficult fields in reality. Medical data involves huge costs, from refinement to interpretation.”

“But there’s much to gain from it.”

‘Much to gain.’

That phrase struck Alex’s heart.

It was the typical reaction of AI investors calculating the return on investment.

Could it be that Ha Si-heon wasn’t any different from them?

“If you have a billion dollars, then yes, there’s surely potential for remarkable progress.”

Alex said with a bitter smile.

Normally, when such things were discussed, investors would talk about a rosy future.

But Ha Si-heon’s reaction was different.

His face darkened instantly.

“Remarkable progress… well, I’m not so sure.”

“Do you think it’s not possible?”

“Well, if you disregard methods and means, sure, it’s possible. But healthcare is different.”

This… was an unexpected answer.

“Don’t you have to handle patient data? There’s a constraint where you have to advance technology without infringing on privacy. It’s uncertain whether success can be achieved compared to other AI fields.”

Alex’s heart began to race.

Ha Si-heon was saying the very words Alex most wanted to hear.

‘He’s concerned about ethics.’

This was exactly why Alex wanted to establish Next AI.

To prevent the dangers that blind development could bring.

Especially in healthcare, the risks were much greater.

But,

“That’s not all. AI fundamentally learns from the data provided. What happens if that data is constructed based on efficiency or profitability, rather than the quality of treatment? Ultimately, the AI would optimize for those factors.”

Ha Si-heon was precisely addressing Alex’s concerns.

“This is just the beginning. Bias is also a serious issue. For example, if AI learns from medical data centered around white people, it could make inappropriate judgments for other races. In healthcare, such errors won’t just be mistakes. We’re dealing with lives here.”

This wasn’t just a superficial understanding.

Ha Si-heon was addressing the ethical dilemmas faced by healthcare and AI, as if he had been contemplating these issues for a long time.

However, Of course, this was all an act.

Ha Si-heon already knew the mission of Next AI.

‘We’re after somewhat different goals, but…’

Knowing the answer and not using it is foolish. So Ha Si-heon recited the answers he had seen before. 

“Especially, there’s the danger when such technology falls into the wrong hands. Competition might heat up, and some could make wrong choices…”

As Ha Si-heon continued speaking, a bright smile spread across Alex’s face.

‘I’ve finally found him.’

An investor who prioritizes ethics.

Alex wanted to share his plans with Ha Si-heon right away, but

‘Calm down.’

He barely restrained his excitement.

He had colleagues to consider.

He couldn’t make unilateral decisions.

“How long will you be in California?”

At the sudden question, Ha Si-heon tilted his head.

“I have a gathering with acquaintances soon, and I’d like to invite you. I believe you’ll find the conversation quite engaging since you’re interested in such topics.”

“Interested in such topics, you say…”

Ha Si-heon pondered the words for a moment, then smiled brightly and replied,

“I plan to stay in California for two weeks. If you invite me, I’ll be happy to make time.”

#

The conversation with Alex Sanders ended on a positive note.

Though no investment proposal came out of that meeting, the very mention of ‘invitation’ held great meaning.

‘Is this like a second-round interview?’

Come to think of it, in today’s world, even job applications often involve third or fourth rounds of interviews.

So, it was unlikely that he would invite me immediately.

In any case, I had passed the first hurdle safely.

Not a bad outcome.

The remaining schedule of the summit passed quickly.

The next day, Schmitt came to find me.

“You never mentioned anything about rare disease treatments, did you?”

His face was filled with a deep sense of injustice.

It was understandable.

He had originally rejected “selfish private equity investments,” and now, due to my little play, he had somehow become the person who “ignored rare disease patients.”

“Talking about rare diseases is quite personal… I’ve meant to mention it at some point, but it seemed like you weren’t keen on speaking with me, so I never had the chance.”

I considered teasing him a little more, but…

Schmitt was still an important person for me.

It was wise to offer reconciliation here.

“Actually, I understand your concerns. Fund investments come with many restrictions. But, what if we change the main entity?”

“Change it to…?”

“I’d like to invest in Tempest as an individual, not through a company. I can provide the full $200 million needed.”

His gaze faltered.

$200 million was no small amount.

But for me, it was an amount I could easily handle.

The profits I made from the Allergan campaign alone, excluding employee bonuses, were about $2 billion.

“But, I need a seat on the board. However, the only matter I’ll be involved in as a director is the Castleman research. If you provide a small team for the Castleman research, I won’t involve myself in any other management decisions.”

Schmitt mulled over my proposal for a moment.

However, there was no reason for him to refuse.

Not only would $200 million flow in, but

‘He could escape the stigma of ignoring rare diseases. I was even guaranteeing complete autonomy in management except for the Castleman research.’

“You’re saying that you’re investing as an individual, not through the fund?”

“Exactly.”

“Then, I accept.”

The deal was sealed.

Though there were still two companies that had rejected my investment, that was just a matter of time.

“I’ll be at Rosewood Sand Hill for two weeks. If you want to discuss the investment, feel free to come by anytime.”

I casually let everyone I met at the summit know where I’d be staying.

The rumor that an investor willing to give away $1 billion almost without conditions was staying in California spread quickly.

Eventually, the two companies I had proposed investments to also came running.

“I hear this is a personal moonshot project. Are you investing as an individual?”

“Yes.”

Like Schmitt, they seemed relieved to know it was a personal investment rather than a fund.

And so, I signed contracts with them as well, spending a hectic few days.

The news of my investment reached many more AI developers.

I carefully reviewed each of their proposals.

Perhaps there were technologies from my past life that had disappeared without getting a chance.

After several busy days, I finally received the awaited contact.

It was Alex Sanders.

“I wanted to check if you could attend the meeting I mentioned earlier.”

It was the second-round interview.